A mother and daughter. The mother is perhaps in the Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst; RAD), the daughter in the German League of Maidens (BDM).
This page is devoted to color images of women and girls of World War II. All efforts are made to only pick authentic photographs from the World War II timeframe.
A WASP (that’s Women Airforce Service Pilot) during World War II.
This page is intended to give a broad overview of the experiences of women involved in World War II.
Soviet sniper Jr. Lt. Ziba Ganiyeva, responsible for 21 kills.
However, if you see any that photos that are of reenactors or old movie sets, kindly leave a note below so that I can review them.
Hitler and Eva Braun in June 1944, at the wedding of Eva's Sister.
Not all of these photos originally were in color. In fact, it is possible that most of them were not - though some sources, such as Life magazine, did use color film. Color film was very expensive and not readily available during World War II, though it was used for some purposes both in the 1930s and 1940s. Thus, many of these photos are colorized using Photoshop or some similar software. As long as the original black-and-white photo appears to be authentic and the colors added appear to reflect reality, then it is good to go.
Reconnaissance engineer (sapper) Sima (Alexandra) Dneprovskaya circa 1943 (Photo: Olga Shirnina).
It has become fashionable in certain circles for modern women to "dress up" in World War II uniforms. Those do not appear here, at least intentionally. Fortunately, later photos are usually easy to spot because the quality is just a little too good.
Selling flowers on "Rosentag" (Day of the roses) for aid organization "Mutter und Kind" (Mother and Child) in June 1934 (colorized).
However, there are some World War II-era photos that look like they were taken recently. The right equipment in the proper circumstances produced fabulous photos back then, so just because a photo looks "good" does not automatically disqualify it from considerations. That said, it is easy to get fooled, and that does happen here from time to time.
Anne Frank on her roof, 1939.
Women played many roles in World War II. Perhaps their most important role was behind the lines, building the weapons that men used in combat. That may not have brought women much glory, but it was absolutely necessary to the war and the fruit of their labors led to victory by the Allies.
Inge Ley, wife of the Reich labor boss. Rumored to be Hitler's lover, she committed suicide in 1942.
There were females serving in the front lines, and women in uniform died in all armies. In the United States, some women worked as ferry pilots, and some crashed and gave their lives for the war effort. In the Soviet Union, entire units were composed of women, such as the famous "Night Witches" unit of the Red Air Force and many top snipers. In Germany, Hanna Reitsch tested the most advanced aircraft in the Luftwaffe, while in England women helped guide Spitfires to dogfights. Some amazingly heroic actions were made by women, such as the switchboard operator at an RAF airfield who stayed at her post as the building was bombed, caught fire, and collapsed around her.
This is identified as Maria Limanskaya, who later became famous for directing traffic at the Brandenburg Gate shortly after the war.
Of course, some women were victims, too. They also are represented here.
BDM girls collecting money for the organization.
If you like these color photos, you may wish to check out my other pages of color photos of World War II.
Galina Makarovna, nurse of the 14th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Guards Rifle Division, 1942 (Photo colorized: Za Rodinu).
Sculptor Joseph Thorak with an unidentified woman who somewhat resembles Inge Ley. They are outside the teahouse in Berchtesgaden in 1939. (Photo series by Hugo Jaeger/Timepix/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images).
Lieutenant Colonel Anna “Tony” Walker Wilson (center), Women’s Army Corps (WAC) Staff Director in the European Theatre of Operations, with a fellow WAC and US Army Technical Sergeant, probably on the grounds of Château du Pont-Rilly, France, 1st of August 1944.
Kyra Petrovskaya. Kyra passed away on 3 June 2018 (colorized).
A Luftwaffe Helferin.
An unidentified girl serving as a nurse in Warsaw during the uprising, 1944.
The wedding of Joseph and Magda Goebbels. The fellow in the back in the hat? That's Adolf Hitler (colorized).
A CWAC beside a lion statue near the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa during World War II.
"A German mother who has just received the Mother's Cross pushes a baby carriage, accompanied by two of her older children in their Hitler Youth and League of German Girls uniforms. Berlin, Germany, 1942." (B/W Photo Colourised by Pearse).
One of a series depicting Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland. Released to mark the official establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto (Photos taken by Hugo Jaeger/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images).
A Polish Red Cross nurse with other Polish soldiers captured by Germans during the invasion of Poland, September 1939. She is in a series of photographs, the photographer obviously liked her [Hugo Jaeger/ LIFE/Getty].
She is worth a closer look. Her four companions still seem to be protecting her even though they are all POWs. As a Red Cross member, it is possible that she received safe conduct out of the war zone.
BDM girls preparing for a political parade, Innsbruck, Austria 1938.
One of a series depicting Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland. Released to mark the official establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto (Photos taken by Hugo Jaeger).
A BDM girl.
Lillian Yonally, WASP ferry pilot.
The Fuhrer takes tea with several people (most not seen) including a blonde woman. She has been variously identified, but apparently is the wife of prominent politician Albert Forster at Hitler's home, Berghof, Berchtesgaden, Upper Bavaria, Germany, in the late 1930s.
Czesława Kwoka, a 14-year-old prisoner who was in Auschwitz. Czesława was one of the thousands of children who were sent to Auschwitz (colorized by Marina Amaral)
Reichsparteitag Großdeutschland (Rally for Greater German), held 5 – 12 September 1938. This is Part 1, "Neues Europa."
Oyida Peaks riveting in August 1942 (Howard R. Hallem).
An Aryan family no doubt photographed for propaganda purposes.
A Jewish mother and child, taken in a Ghetto.
Unidentified German girl (colorized).
Norma Jean Baker at her job at a war plant in Los Angeles, 1944 (David Conover/US Army).
Soviet soldiers celebrating the relief of Leningrad, 18 January 1943. However, the Germans were still nearby, this attack only broke through a narrow corridor along the southern shore of Lake Ladoga. Every inch of land there was under German artillery fire. The real relief of the city did not come for another year.
This page is devoted to color photos of World War II soldiers. The emphasis is on ordinary soldiers, not generals and politicians.
US Army Air Force Flight Sergeant James Hyde with mascot dog "Dingo." Hyde was killed when his Spitfire was shot down by German fighters near Nijmegen, Holland, on 25 September 1944.
I have tried to include a variety of soldiers from different warring nations.
All efforts have been made to make sure these are authentic photos from the World War II timeframe.
German Fallschirmjäger.
Some or all of these pictures may be colorized using modern tools such as Photoshop. As long as the coloring process does not alter the scene represented aside from the addition of color, it is good to go. There are ways to turn off color on your end if the addition of color annoys you.
The Soviet 1st Squadron of the 15th Guards Ground Attack Aviation Regiment.
Obviously, this is a huge topic, with millions of soldiers in every major-power army. The objective is to give a representative sampling of what ordinary soldiers went through during the war. This includes a lot of standing in formation, marching down dusty roads, and fighting.
German soldiers advancing near the ruins of Stalingrad Tractor Factory.
If you like these color photos, you may wish to check out my other pages of color photos of World War II.
German motorcycle troops taking a break during the advance into the Soviet Union, 1941.
A German soldier with his German Shepherd.
A Spanish Blue Division soldier at the front in 1941. The Blue Division held the Volkhov River line south of Leningrad.
Approaching Omaha Beach, 6 June 1944.
German motorcycle troops.
A Cossack in German service.
Coming ashore at Normandy, June 1944.
German soldiers neutralizing a Soviet sniper who was using a Degtyaryov machine gun or DP-27, 1941.
Soviet soldiers at the 24 June 1945 Victory Day Parade in Moscow. These are specially made uniforms for this event only known as the "Victory Dress."
German soldiers marching down the road in Russia.
German soldiers in the Netherlands, 1940.
German soldiers at a graveyard in North Africa.
Allied troops on the move (capture from combat footage).
Waffen SS Troops with Halftracks and Panther V Ausf G tanks during Soviet Operation Bagration in mid-1944.
Allied troops on the move (capture from original footage).
Civilians watch a German convoy late in World War II (capture from original footage).
Soviet Marines detachment of Major Caesar Kunikov, 1943.
A late-war Allied parachute drop (capture from original combat footage).
A German squad during the Battle of Stalingrad.
French Legion soldiers.
German soldiers on the march.
Members of the 7th Guards Tank Corps with a T-34-85 crew in Berlin, 1945.
Swedish soldiers with a KSP m/14-29 during World War II. Sweden was neutral but its military was prepared to resist a German invasion on short notice.
A German Waffen-SS machinegunner.
RAF plane plotters.
An Imperial Japanese burial ceremony in China, 1938.
German soldiers in the Soviet Union.
Returning to base after 23 days on the line are Marines of Combat Team 'C', 2-7th US Marines. This was during the Battle of Cape Gloucester. 14-15th January 1944.
German soldiers armed with MG-34s and KAR-98 rifles escorting two Soviet POWs (USSR 1941).
A US soldier wielding an M1 Garand.
German soldiers during Operation Barbarossa.
US soldiers of C Company, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division seek shelter behind an M-4 Sherman tank at Geich.
